A look at La Crosse Viral Encephalitis . and how to control it What is La Crosse Encephalitis? What You Can Do To Protect Mosquitoes Can be Controlled Yourself? La Crosse viral encephalitis is a severe The most effective and economical disease of the central nervous system 1. Fill in basal tree holes temporarily with method of reducing adult mosquitoes affecting persons of all ages, but usually sand or other coarse soil. over a large area is to prevent emergence children. (Encephalitis means from as many breeding areas as possible. inflammation of the brain.) 2. Keep old tires under cover where Adult mosquitoes, once emerged, water can’t get in them. Do not use disperse over large areas; hence, it is The virus, which produces fever, tires to hold down tarps or other easier to control the larvae when they are headache, drowsiness, vomiting and, in covers. concentrated in the water. half of the cases, convulsions, is carried 3. Don’t leave empty cans, bottles, by a certain type of mosquito called buckets, or other containers lying Ochlerotatus triseriatus. La Crosse viral around where they can collect water. Source Reduction eliminates artificial encephalitis is a very common disease in breeding sites such as tin cans, tires and 4. Have your children use mosquito the United States. tree holes, all of which can breed pest repellent and wear light colored and disease carrying mosquitoes. clothing that covers their arms and Fortunately, few die of the disease; but legs, especially in the late afternoon – because of the severity of the symptoms, the mosquito’s peak biting period. While larvae control won’t solve the entire good hospital care is required, usually for problem (adults from outside the from seven to ten days. There is no 5. If your child develops symptoms of controlled area may fly in), it will go a long specific drug known to alter the course of fever, severe headache, vomiting, way toward making it possible to spend the disease, but study has shown us how drowsiness or convulsions, get evenings out doors devoid of the problem to prevent it. medical attention immediately. of mosquitoes. ***If your child develops symptoms of The Ochlerotatus triseriatus mosquito that Climatic conditions have much to do with fever, severe headache, vomiting, spreads the virus breeds in any object fluctuations of mosquito populations. drowsiness or convulsions, get medical that holds water rover a prolonged Extremely dry conditions preclude attention immediately. period. This includes basal tree holes hatching although given amounts of and unrimmed tires. They can also rainfall will cause broods to come off. breed in cans, bottles, buckets, and in Eggs not hatched because of low rainfall standing water found on tarps (such as are still available for hatching given are used to cover woodpiles and open pit proper climatic conditions. silos). Ochlerotatus triseriatus will not breed in wetlands, ponds, or ditches. .